FOAM releases new single “Elysium”

Coming out of Los Angeles, singer-songwriter Kian Salem is an enigmatic creative figure creating music under the artistic banner FOAM. Taking inspiration from a wide array of styles, with influences coming from artists such as Nirvana, The Beatles and Oasis, the new musical endeavour sees the him channel punk style angst into a sound that flows across alternative rock, grunge, pop and folk.

With intriguing lyrical writing, FOAM branches into both absurd and more poignantly reflective spheres while often fluttering between mysterious, veiled metaphors and personal meditations. Captured in engaging guitar-driven arrangements and capped by Kian’s expressive vocals, FOAM’s musical output is highly original and thoroughly surprising, capturing the warmth of American rock with echoes of Britpop charm.

First unveiling the FOAM endeavour at the start of this year with the debut single “Stomach Bug,” an uptempo indie rock jam, he’s been quick to expand his unique musical world. Quickly following up with singles two and three before the debut EP, Blanket, landed in March, FOAM has shown no signs of slowing down.

Continuing to share a string of new tracks, he brings us one of his latest releases with his recent single titled “Elysium.” Set up by a hushed feedback buzz, the strums of acoustic guitar usher in smooth vocal leads spinning mesmeric melodic leads that glide above to craft a subtly moody folk rock scene that distils a timeless grunge-inflected aesthetic.

At once stripped-back yet hypnotic, the winding rhythmic sway is bolstered by the patter of percussive shots and steady shuffle of shaker as the winding vocal lines snake throughout to deliver a smokey listening experience. It’s a superb showcase of FOAM’s unique songwriting flair and assured performance talent, offering an enduring sound that’s both accessible and entirely new.

An exercise in restraint, “Elysium” frames the musical vision of Kian Salem and the FOAM project in a minimal setting that’s still equally impactful in its sonic constraint. As FOAM continues to unveil more music, we can’t wait to see what else this exciting act has in store on what’s sure to be a breakout year.

Listen to Elysium below